NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the Delhi Metro Rail Project Phase-V(A), paving the way for the development of three new corridors that are expected to significantly strengthen connectivity across the national capital. The approved corridors together cover a total length of 16.076 km and will be executed at an overall cost of ₹12,014.91 crore. The funding for the project will be jointly sourced from the Government of India, the Government of Delhi and international funding agencies.
The three corridors cleared under Phase-V(A) include the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha corridor, spanning 9.913 km, the Aerocity–Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport Terminal-1 corridor of 2.263 km, and the Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj corridor measuring 3.9 km. As part of the project, 13 new Metro stations will be constructed, of which 10 will be underground while three will be elevated.
One of the major highlights of the expansion is improved connectivity to the Central Vista area. The R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha corridor, which is an extension of the existing Botanical Garden–R.K. Ashram Marg line, will provide seamless Metro access to Kartavya Bhawans and other key Central Vista landmarks. According to officials, this direct connectivity will benefit nearly 60,000 office-goers and close to two lakh visitors on a daily basis, while also helping to ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution levels.
The Aerocity–IGD Airport Terminal-1 and Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj stretches are extensions of the Aerocity–Tughlakabad corridor and are expected to significantly enhance airport connectivity with South Delhi localities such as Saket, Chhatarpur and Kalindi Kunj. These extensions are aimed at strengthening last-mile connectivity to the domestic airport and improving overall mobility in the southern parts of the capital.
Stations proposed on the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha corridor include R.K. Ashram Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Bhawan, India Gate, War Memorial–High Court, Baroda House, Bharat Mandapam and Indraprastha. The Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj corridor will have stations at Sarita Vihar Depot, Madanpur Khadar and Kalindi Kunj, while the Aerocity station will be extended to connect directly with IGD Terminal-1.
These new corridors, which will form part of the Magenta Line and the upcoming Golden Line, are expected to ease road congestion, lower vehicular emissions and enhance overall ease of living, while also providing a boost to economic activity in Central Delhi and the areas around the domestic airport.
At present, the Delhi Metro operates 12 lines covering approximately 395 km with 289 stations across Delhi-NCR, catering to an average of around 65 lakh passenger journeys every day. Construction work on Phase-IV, which includes 111 km of corridors and 83 stations, is currently underway, with priority sections expected to be completed in phases by December 2026.
“There are 12 lines at present, and six new projects to extend existing lines are already under construction,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, adding that with the implementation of Phase-5(A), the Delhi Metro network will cross the 400-km mark and rank among the top five Metro systems globally, serving over 65 lakh commuters on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said that during its third term, the Modi government has rolled out infrastructure projects worth nearly ₹5 lakh crore. Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, he said that approvals were granted across key sectors including airports, ports, highways and railways.
He noted that airport development projects amounting to ₹7,339 crore have been approved for Bagdogra, Bihta, Varanasi and Kota, with the objective of strengthening regional air connectivity. In the ports and shipping sector, the Cabinet has cleared the construction of a major port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra, along with maritime reforms, involving a total investment of ₹1.45 lakh crore.
The highways sector accounted for the highest investment, with projects worth ₹1.97 lakh crore approved for eight high-speed road corridors spanning 936 km, expansion under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana, and strategic road development in border areas. In the railway sector, 43 projects covering 5,869 km of new lines and multi-tracking were approved at an estimated cost of ₹1.52 lakh crore.
Vaishnaw said these wide-ranging infrastructure initiatives underline the government’s emphasis on building world-class connectivity, creating employment opportunities and supporting long-term, sustainable economic growth.
